News

San Jose man sentenced to life for stabbing father, shooting at police officer

Mercury News

Posted:
01/25/2013 03:21:47 PM PST

SAN JOSE -- A 37-year-old San Jose man was sentenced to 95 years to life for stabbing his father and then three months later shooting at a police officer who was trying to arrest him.

Joe Paul Martinez, a three-striker, pleaded guilty on Oct. 23 to premeditated attempted murder of a peace officer in 2010.

"Over and over, this defendant has proved he is a dangerous menace," Deputy District Attorney Angela Bernhard said in a news release. "This sentence ensures that he will never again be free to hurt residents or the officers who protect us."

Prosecutors say Martinez has already spent most of his adult life behind bars, and in July 2010 had only been out of prison for two months when he assaulted his father. He punched, kicked and stabbed his father six times in the arms, head, neck and armpit.

The father survived.

On Oct. 21, San Jose police looking for a car that had taken off during a traffic stop, found Martinez sleeping in a red Nissan Altima on Tampa Way. Martinez awoke to police surrounding him, according to prosecutors. He tried to drive from the parking spot, but couldn't. When a police officer went up to the Altima, Martinez fired a .45-caliber handgun twice at the officer. He missed both times.

Other officers returned fire, hitting Martinez numerous times, according to prosecutors.

Inside the Altima, police found two handguns. Prosecutors said Martinez had a loaded handgun clip and a half-ounce bag of methamphetamine in his pockets.